Small island takes on rising seas in landmark climate lawsuit

Small island takes on rising seas in landmark climate lawsuit | Photo: Stephan van de Schootbrugge

When the small Caribbean island of Bonaire filed a climate lawsuit against the Netherlands, it was not merely asserting a legal claim, it was issuing a plea for survival. For this coral-ringed island of just 288 square kilometres, climate change is no abstraction. Rising seas are eroding coastlines, coral reefs are bleaching under relentless heat, and the livelihoods of its 22,000 residents are increasingly under threat.

The lawsuit, brought by Greenpeace Netherlands and eight Bonairean citizens, accuses the Dutch state of failing to adequately safeguard the island from escalating climate risks. Despite being a special municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire receives far less climate protection and infrastructure investment than the European mainland. The plaintiffs contend that this unequal treatment breaches fundamental principles of human rights, equality, and environmental justice.

A legal turning point for climate accountability

At the heart of the case lies a demand for stronger mitigation and adaptation. The plaintiffs are calling for net-zero emissions by 2040, ten years earlier than the Netherlands’ current national target, and for a comprehensive adaptation plan tailored to Bonaire’s vulnerabilities. This includes protecting coral reefs, reinforcing coastal defences, and preparing for more intense storms and heatwaves.

The case draws on Dutch civil law as well as international human rights instruments, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The plaintiffs also reference the 2025 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, which clarified that states have a duty to prevent foreseeable climate-related harm within and beyond their territories.

Scientific data strengthens their argument. The Caribbean region is experiencing sea-level rise of approximately 3.6 millimetres per year, and up to 80 per cent of Bonaire’s coral cover has been lost or damaged due to bleaching over the past decade. Without swift action, entire coastal neighbourhoods could face chronic flooding within the next 30 years, threatening the island’s economy, infrastructure, and cultural heritage.

From island courtroom to global stage

Should Bonaire’s case succeed, it could establish a global precedent in climate litigation, empowering other island and coastal communities to hold their governments accountable. It also tests whether domestic courts can enforce international climate obligations, a question of growing urgency as global warming accelerates.

Yet, the lawsuit raises complex dilemmas. Can courts compel governments to act more aggressively on climate without overstepping democratic boundaries? How will states fund such ambitious adaptation programmes when the sources of climate damage are global and diffuse? These questions will shape not only the outcome of this case but the future of climate governance itself.

A moral challenge from the margins

Beyond the legal arguments, Bonaire’s action carries profound symbolic weight. It underscores how small island communities, despite contributing the least to global emissions, are leading the call for justice and accountability. In doing so, they remind larger nations that climate responsibility cannot end at continental borders.

In the broader pursuit of sustainable development and global equity, principles echoed in SDG 13 (Climate Action), Bonaire’s voice resonates far beyond its shores. The case embodies a defining moral test of our time, whether the most powerful nations will protect the most vulnerable before the tide rises too high.

For further reading on global climate litigation and small island adaptation strategies, see Climate Case Tracker and Climate Home News.